Learning outcomes

  • Knowledge of German-speaking culture and literature from the 18th to the 20th century
  • Development of critical thinking with regard to the various transformations in society (past and present)
  • Acquisition of basic bibliographic research skills
  • Acquisition of language level B1/B2 according to CEFR criteria (for non-native speakers of German)

Goals

Following on from the Introduction to German-speaking Culture course, this course aims to deepen students' knowledge of German-speaking culture and literature. It will familiarise students with well-known (and lesser-known) texts and help them establish links with our society today, in particular by evoking the major changes in the media, the relationship between human beings and nature, and gender issues. The aim of the course is to stimulate discussion of the texts read in the theory and exercise sessions, and to develop a critical stance among the students.

Through workshops on bibliographic research and online resources, students will be able to explore major resources in the field of literature, use bibliographic databases and correctly reference scientific and literary sources. These workshops will be organised in collaboration with the University Library (BUMP).

This course aims at the acquisition of level B1/B2 according to the CEFR* and places particular emphasis on the development of complete, precise and accurate oral and written communication skills.

*https://www.coe.int/fr/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages

Content

This course is directly linked to the previous course (Introduction à la culture germanophone), opening with the Enlightenment and then covering the different periods up to 20th century literature. After a general presentation of each period, part of each lesson will be devoted to a specific theme or author related to the period studied. The course creates numerous links with other fields such as history, art history and music. This interdisciplinary approach not only provides a more global understanding of literary trends, but also creates a greater dynamic within the lessons.

 

Table of contents

The course follows a chronological axis and is structured into 10 main chapters: 1) Literatur der Aufklärungsepoche; 2) 'Sturm und Drang'; 3) Weimarer Klassik; 4) Romantik; 5) Biedermeier, Vormärz, Junges Deutschland; 6) Poetischer Realismus; 7) Naturalismus; 8) Literatur der Jahrhundertwende; 9) Expressionismus / Franz Kafka; 10) Literatur der Weimarer Republik.
 
The aim of this chronological axis is to create a solid foundation on which to build the other, more thematic courses, such as Literarische Textanalyse II: Drama und Prosa and Literaturen der Welt.

Exercices

The course includes compulsory exercises (15 hours). These aim to stimulate oral expression in German through the discussion of short stories (linked to the chapters of the course) as well as through activities focusing on different subjects linked to German-speaking culture. These exercises will also include two workshops devoted to bibliographical research and online resources.

 

Teaching methods

Partly ex cathedra, partly interactive. The course is accompanied by numerous exercises.

Participation in any activity organised by the department as part of this course is considered compulsory.

Assessment method

The final score will consist of

- 30% of a compulsory assignment that students must submit and present in December (15% for the written part, 15% for the oral part). In this work, the use of AI will be approached at the level of the production of written texts which will serve as a basis for the oral presentation;

- 70% of the written exam in January. The student will first be asked to analyse an unknown text or excerpt from a text by answering a series of questions. The questions will then be more general and will concern the literary, historical and social context of the text as well as its belonging to a specific literary trend/period. Some questions will be related to the texts read in the exercise sessions. At this stage of the assessment, the use of AI will not be accepted.

Access to the examination is conditional on the submission of written and oral work during the year. Continuous assessment (written work to be submitted).

Sources, references and any support material

• Syllabus Geschichte der deutschen Literatur 

• Course reader that accompanies the hours of exercises and list of books that will be presented at the beginning of the course.

• PowerPoint presentations and supplementary materials made available to students throughout the semester (on WebCampus).

Language of instruction

German